Wire stretcher



May 30, 1933. J MARX 1,911,910

WIRE STRETCHERS Filed July 29, 1952 Patented May 30, 1933 u-iai'rsn STATES JOSEPH MARX, 01? MADISON, WISCONSIN WIRE STRETCHER Application filed. July 29,

This invention appertains to wire stretchers and has for one of its primary objects the provision of a unitary tool for wire fence work embodying a rack bar having means for anchoring the'same to a fence post or the like and traveling lever mounted for step-by-st-ep movement along the rack bar, the lever having a clamp for engaging and pulling the wire whereby the wire can be drawn taut over the fence post for stapling, the rack bar also being provided with a clamp whereby the tool can be effectively used for bringing wire ends toward one another for splicing.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of novel means for forming the frame and rack bar for the tool, so that the same will form an effective guide for the lever during the sliding movement thereof along the rack bar.

A further object of my invention is to provide a unitary wire stretching tool of the above character, which will be durable and efiicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described,

claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved wire stretcher.

Figure 2 is a transverse section through the same taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows showing the wire clamp carried by the rack bar in edge elevation.

Figure 4 is a detail fragmentary view illustrating the wire clamp carried by the operating lever.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate the corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved device, which comprises a frame 10 along which travels the operating lever 1982. Serial No. 625,690.

11. The frame 10 i'sconstructed in a novel manner for forming a guide fortheiever 11 and as shown, the same embodies a pair of spaced parallel top bars 12 and 13 arranged in the same plane and a pair of spaced parallel bottom frame bars 14 and 15. The top bars 12 and 13 and the bottom bars 14 and 15 are also arranged in spaced parallel relation so as to form a longitudinally extending guideway 16 therebetween. At one end of the frame is disposed a space plate 17 and this plate 17 is riveted or otherwise secured in position between the bars 12 and 13 and the bars 14 and 15 by means of rivets 18. At the other endof the frame is arranged a second spacing plate 19 and this plate is like wise disposed between the pair of bars 12 and 13 and pair of bars 14 and 15 and is secured in place by the use of rivets or the like fastening elements 20. This plate 19 extends beyond the bars 12 and 13 to provide an arm 21, the purpose of which will be later set forth.

From the construction so far, it can be seen that the plates 17 and 19 not only unite the bars 12, 13, 14 and 15 but also hold these bars in their proper spaced relation. The bar 12 is provided on its outer longitudinal edge with a series of equi-distantly. spaced rack teeth 22, for a purpose which will be later set forth. Anchoring rings 23 can. be secured to the plates 17 and 19, whereby the frame can be readily anchored to a fence post or the like by the use of a suitable chain.

The upper end of the arm 21 forms one jaw 24 for awire clamp 25. The other jaw 26 of the clampis connected by means of a bolt 27 and thumb nut 28 with the arm 21, so that the jaw 26 can be adjusted toward and away from the jaw 24. This provides means for firmly gripping a strand of wire.

Referring more particularly to the lever 11, it can be seen that this lever extends between the bars 12 and 13 and between the bars 14 and 15 and carries a pivot bolt 29 which is arranged within the longitudinal guideway 16. Obviously, in view of the mounting of the lever 11 between the bars 12 and 13 and between the bars 14 and 15,; lateral shifting of the lever is prevented.

The lever extends beyond the opposite longitudinal edges of the bars 12, 13, 14; and 15 and one end of the lever is provided with an operating handle 30. The opposite end of the lever is provided with a laterally extending right angularly disposed flange 31 which forms a part of a wire strand grip. Rockably mounted on the lever inward of the flange 31 is a toothed cam lever 32 and this lever 32 is adapted to bind a strand of wire between the same and the flange during the stretching of the wire. Thus, the cam lever 32 and. the flange 31 constitute a wire clamp 33.

Rockably mounted on the lever between the wire grip 33 and the rack teeth 22 is a pivoted dog 34. This dog 34 is'norinally urged toward the rack teeth 22 by means of a leaf spring 35. Pivotally connected to the lever 11, as at :36, is a yoke-shaped pawl 37 which is also adapted to engage the rack teeth 22 on the opposite side of the lever from the dog 34:. It is to be noted that the pawl 37 is rockably mounted on the lever on the opposite side of the frame from the dog 34.

In use of my improved tool, where a strand of wire is to be drawn tight across a fence post for stapling, the frame 10 is anchored to the fence post by means of one of the rings 23 after which the strand of wire is anchored to the lever 11 by means of the clamp 33. The lever is now worked back and forth and due to the arrangement of the dog 34 and the pawl 37, the lever will be caused to travel in a stepby-step movement over the rack bar and thus,

bring about the stretching of the wire.

There the ends of a pair of wires are to be spliced, one end is connected to the clamp 25 and the other end is connected to the clamp 33 and the lever is operated for sliding the arm in a step-by-step movement toward the clamp 25. When the ends of the wires are brought in proper overlapping arrangement, the same are then twisted together.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a novel wire stretcher. of an exceptionally simple and durable construction which will effectively accomplish the purpose intended.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is 1. A wire stretcher comprising a frame including a pair of spaced parallel bars arranged in the same horizontal plane, a second pair of spaced parallel bars arranged in the same horizontal plane and spaced from the first pair to define a longitudinally extending guideway, ratchetteeth formed on one longitudinal edge of one ofsaid bars, spacer plates secured to the ends of the bars and between the same and holding the bars in proper spaced relation, a wire clamp carried by one end of the frame, a lever slidably disposed between the bars of the first pair and the bars of the second pair, a pivot pin carried lever having a pivot mounting for sliding movement in the guideway, a hand grip formed on one end of the lever, a wire grip carried by the opposite end of the lever, a spring-pressed pawl pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the pivot for engaging the rack bar, and a yoke-shaped pawl pivotally connected to the opposite end of the lever for engaging the rack bar. 7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of lVisconsin.

JOSEPH MARX. 

